Interfolding machine



Dan. 26, 1922.

P. J CHRI N. JR.

lNTERFOLDlNG ACHINE. FILED MAY 17, 192] A 6 SHEET5'SHEET 1 Dec. 2%, max.

P. J. CHRISTMAN. JR. |NTERFOLDING MACHINE.

FILED MAY 17, 1921 6 SHEETS'SHEET 2 Dec. 26, 1922.

P. J. CHRISTMAN, JR. |NTERFOLDING MACHINE F1 LED MAY 17 6 SHEETS'SHEET 3 6 SHEETS'SHEET 4 P. J. CHRISTMAN, JR. INTERFOLDING MACHINE. FILED MAY 17. 1921.

Dec, 26; 1922.

(like 1 we 1 STATES PATE oFF cE.

1 PETER J. 'GHRISTMAN, .13., or GREEN BAY, Wisconsin.

INTERFoLnriIo MACHINE.

' application filed May 17, 1921. Serial No. 470,398.

- To all whom it may concern:

' Be it knownthat 1, PETER J. CHRISTMAN,

' Jr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Green Bay, in'the county of Brown 5 and State of Wisconsin, have invented cer-- tain new and useful Improvements in Interfolding Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in folding machines, and particularly to that [type of machine for folding sheets of paper in such a manner as to form packages, such as towels, toilet paper and the like. w

The object of my invention is to provide a machine adapted to produce packs of folded sheets,."the same being so'arranged that when one of the lower sheets is removed from the pack end the freeed'ge of the next succeeding sheet is exposed, so that it may be readily withdrawn ina manner similar to that of the first. Such packs offfolded I sheets are customarily retained in abox having a slot in its b'ottom"portion -.throu gh.

' tion.' "thfe 1n their several positions,

which projects the open'edgeofthe lower sheet, so as to permit thereino'val of that' sheet and the remaining1'sheets"one'jaftei-i another in a manner similar to that described above.' A further object of my invention; resides 'in the means for gripping the vpaperand moving it down upon the arcl'of a' circlef so as tomaintain the. proper dist'ance or width of fold and pulling down during its movement a suflicient quantity of-p'aper for this purpose.

40 mechanism in a plurality of w ebs-,' is 'per- A further object of myinventionisitopro' vide a machine of the characterjdescrlbed,

forated at the proper-interval, the paper-- then being trained around certain elements,

in suh a manner that the perforations. in

one web lie within the centraljfportioii offthe correspondingsheet in the second web.

The sheets are connected in each web-by unperforated portions which are adapted frame carries the cutting'and spring upon the gripping jaws, adapted to -"Fignre '5 1 the grippingjaws and the tucking bar assooperatingmeans ofthe jaws. m F gure 8 1s a top plan View of one of the 'grippingjaws'and it'sopera'ting element,

Heretofore it has-been a common fault in machines of the character described for the paper to buckle during its folding operation, thus causing serious delays and loss of time in the operation of the machine. Therefore one of the salientpoints of my invention resides in the provision of folding means whereby the paper during its folding operation held taut by the, gripping arms.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is ,a side elevation of the complete machine, the top portion of which has mounted therein the perforating and guiding rolls, while the bottom portion carries the interfoldi ng mechanism.

Figure 2 a front view of a portion'of the'in'achine, showing the same partly in elevation and partlyin section,-

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional'view taken; through the end plate, showing therein the manner ofbonnectibns on the operating shafts,

Figure 4 is a view showing in vertical sec-l gripping jaws and tucking arms a perspective viewof one of "ciated therewith, elevation ofthe gripping jaws and the tucker bar, illustrating the paper being forced between the aws by-the latter-and the manner of breakingthe toggle on-th'e jaws.

Fi ure 7 is-a sectional view through the Figure 6 is an end Figure '9 is a View illustrating diagrammatica'lly' and guide rolls, v

I Referring to the drawings. in detail the numeral 1 designates the main frame of my 1: improved inter-folding m'achine'-, .t'he same serving as 'a' suitable supportjxfor the 'guiding and cutting rolls employed ;-in the oper-'.

ation 'of the same. Referring-yto iE-igurei1, ibo it will. be noted-that the upper part of-the;

- while the lower part has ,me tedQQ-theifein function when said spring1s;under tension and compression to closeand'Iopen the jaws of the grippers, respectively.

- therein a plate 2, having in 'its icentralpo tion an arcuate slot. 3throughiw'hichpro the various elementsfor, inter; ldingi'the 'paper. As disclosed in Figureal-j' 'each'iside ,105

of the-main frame has detaehably'mouiited.5;

he arrangement of the perforating 'idil g rolls, 1

jects the ends of the shafts carrying the gripping jaws, and which will be more fully described hereinafter. Furthermore, it will be noted' that the extreme portions or ends of this slot are practically straight, while I its apex is slightly curved, the reason of which being as the arms or shafts move,

down they are drawn away from the pack of folded paper. The same will be more ,clearly understood as the description proceeds.

Each plate 2 has arranged within its contral portion a' bearing, having mounted therein a stub shaft 4 adapted for oscillation, the same having keyed thereto an arm 5, the free end of which has pivotally connected thereto the pitman'6, the other end of which is connected to a correspondingly formed arm 7 secured upon the end of one of the guiding or cutting rolls in the upper part of the main frame.

' and connections just described.

Extending transversely of the main frame and positioned somewhat below and on each side of the stub shaft 4 are shafts 8 and 9 mounted in such a manner that they may 8 be freely oscillated to permit the operation of the tucker bars, which will be more fully described hereinafter, carried thereby within the interior of the machine.

Referring to Figures '3 and 4, it will be 85' noted that the shaft 41-has keyed thereto,

adjacent its end and within the interior of the machine a sleeve'10,'the same having made integral therewith a pair of arms 11 and 12 positioned at right angles to each (0 other with respect to the. axis of the sleeve.

The free ends of the arms are provided with substantially J-shaped yokes 13 which are adapted to receive therein grooved rollers 14, which are loosely mounted on the shafts 15 and 16 extending; transversely of .the

machine. The end portions of these shafts pass through the slots 3 in the side ,plates 2,

the shafts being further provided with roll-..

ers 17 loosely mounted thereon and adapted to engage that portion of the plates 2 which I i form'the slots 3.

x The rollers 14 and 17 are held in spaced relation with respect to each other and in their proper operating positionswon the shafts 15and 16 by -sui table washers or Y collars 18. The end portions of each shaft orthat portion which protrudes beyond the outer side of the plates 2 have keyed thereto I sleeves I5, the-same further serving to hold the various rollers and elements care 'ried by the shafts in their proper functioning positions.

Each shaft 8 and .9 previously referred to has keyed thereto and. adapted to oscillate therewith a pair of curved arms 19 and 20,

urged toward each other by means of the tension spring 22, the free ends of which are connected to plates 23 and 24 pivotally mounted on each arm adjacent its connection with the shafts 8 and 9, and one of the arms or plates, as indicated at 25, may be'provided with means for regulating the required tension of the spring. The shafts 15 and 16 are provided with paper-gripping jaws, the purpose of which broadly peak- .ing, is to grasp the paper and move it down in an arc, and during its'movement form the fold for the 'paper, eachjaw alternately gripping a portion of the paper. Referring to the structure. of the jaws in detail, and particularly to Figure 4, it will be noted that each jaw is composed of an upper jaw 26 and a lower jaw 27, themain portion of each being concaved longitudinally of its length, and on adjacent faces to receive therein and between the two jaws the shafts 15 and 16, but that portion of each jaw which remains on each side of the concaved portion being inclined. upwardly and down- Wardly, of the upper and 'lower jaws respectively, the purpose of 'whichbeing to permit the free'oscillation of each jaw upon the shaft. In order that the twofijaw sec tions may besnugly and yet movably held upon their carrying shaft, we have arranged 'upon the end face of each jaw an annular extension or boss 28, the same being formed by cutting the jaw end back, as indicated in Figure 8, so that a collar 29 may embrace the extens ions 28, and at the same time be freely rotatable thereon.

By referring to F'gure 3, it will be noted that the-cbllar not only serves as the means 16, but functions asa roller which is adapted to engagethe inner face of the arms of the coactin tucker bars 19 and 20, and adapted to osci late the same upon their pivots during the downward and upward movement of each shaft.

As shown in the drawings, .each jaw is provided with a removable end or tip 30;. the same being made of some suitable fiber which has a greater coeflicient of friction than the jaw itself, the purpose ofjwhich is to provide comparatively resilient gripping,

points atthe end of the jaw members. 'The jaw tips extend the full lengthof each jaw and is held thereto by threaded screws adapted to engage the threaded openings 31 for holding the jaws upon the shafts l5 and f extending paper holding arms 33' arranged to hold the paper at both sides of its foldededges, the same-being arranged in pairs and I in spaced relation to each other transversely of the machine, and being held in their respective positions by suitable rods passing therethrough. .The upper end of each .bar or arm 33 is provided with a rack face to prevent the upward movement of the paper after it is forced down by'the upper nose of the jaw 26. As further shown the end portion of the notched section of the arm 33 is provided with a needle which also serves to hold the paper down more securely. Each paper gripping jaw 26 and 27 is cut away to permit the connection to its carrying shaft of the meansfor controlling. the gripping action of the jaws. A portion of the shafts 15 and 16 which becomesexposed by reason of the cut out ortions ofthe jaws is provided with flat diametrically opposite faces upon which is arranged for transversely sliding movement with respect to the shaft a head 33 having secured thereto a rod 34, the other end of which is slidably mounted within a sleeve 35 made integral with the U-shaped yoke 36, the legs of which are pivotally mountedon vertically extending girders 37 secured to the main frame of the machine. Interposedbetween the sleeve 35 and the head 33 and coiled about the rod 34 is a spring 38, the ends of which are connected to the head and sleeve, as indicated at 39 and 40. Each gripping jaw may be' provided adjacent its end portion with one of such previously described controlling means, or if occasion may demand a plurality of the samemay be arranged throughout the longitudinal length of the jaws.

The head 33 has arranged within its upper and lower portion, that portion which protrudes beyond the faces of jaws, and extending'parallel with the jaw carrying shaft, op-' positely disposed projecting pins 41 and 42.

Arranged parallel with the faces of the head 33 are yoke members .43 and 44 disposed on each side of the head, and having one end of each rigidly connected to the top and bottom jaw, respectively, while its free end is'bifurcated and adapted to engage the projecting pins 41.and By this arrangement, it will be noted that as the. head 33-moves transversely of the shafts 15 or 16 g by reason of the yoke members 43 and 44 the jaws will becaused-to open or close, ac-

cording to the movement of the head. 60.

The end faces of the, upper and lower jaws atoggle 'membercomposed of the members 45; and 146-, being pivotally connected, as at action on the paper, the tucker bar arm has provided thereon a sleeve 48 removably held within a socket portion formed on the upper 7 face of the arm, said sleeve being internally threaded and adapted to receive therein a threaded screw 49 which may be moved back and forth therein, so as to cause the breaking of the toggle at its correct position or moment. In order that the toggle may be held in such a position that'the jaws are held opened, we have provided on the upper face ofthe top jaw a spring 50, the free end of which engages the upwardly projecting part of one of the toggle members.

As disclosed in Figure 5, I have illustrated a modified form of the tucker bar, the same having the removable lip 51.

From the above description, it is thought that the operation of the machine, as a whole, -will be fully understood, but in order that the operation may-be clearly stated the same is as follows: Referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that the paper as it passes from the perforating and guidingrolls, is gripped by the jaws 26 and 27, the same being forced therein by the tucker bar 21, and during its insertion the connecting strips of the sheets in one web are broken and its end portions being held by the gripping action of the jaws under the fold of the second web. As the shaft 4 oscillates theshaft 15 is moved downwardly in the slot 3, and during this movement the spring 38 is compressed, which action causes the head 33 to slide transversely of the shaft 15,, and by reason of the yoke connections 43'and 44wvith the jaws 26 and 27, the same are caused to open, but this action does not take place until the'spring has passed its neutral position. It will be I understood that in the upward position as shown in Figure 4, the spring isunder tension. As the'ja-w moves downward, and enters the straightportion of the slot the same is drawn away from the folded pack, and at the same time the jaws, open sufficient, due to the forward movement of the head,'to permit the paper to pass thereoutof, and during the continued movement of the jaws the long nose of theupper jaw 26 bears on the folded edge of the paper and forces the same down under the rack face or the notched face of the arms 33. In order 'that the jaws may be held opened at the I in each sethavej-pivota-lly connected thereto termination of its downward movement and at the beginning of its downward movement, and to permit the insertion of the paper therebetween prior to the latter movemerit, the toggle arrangement is thrown automatically into action, when the jaws are forced opened by the forward-movement of the head, and remains so until the toggle is broken on the insertion of the paper by the bar 21. During the downward movement of the shaft 15 the roller 29 carried thereby strikes the coacting face of the arm guiding and perforating rolls, the same be-' ing so arranged as to perforate the two webs of paper together,'and by an offset arrangement of the roll A the perforations in the web B are caused to strike the intermediate portion between the perforation in the web ,0 when the same is carried back by the roll D. It is to be understood that this arrangement is mounted in the upper part of the machine and the power for actuating the same is received to one of the rolls in any suitable manner. The roll E as in apparent is provided with an adjustable cuttingknife which .coacts with slots arranged in the periphery of the drum F, this forming the perforations of the two webs simulta neously.

Referring to Figure 1, the shafts 8 and 9 which project beyond the exterior of the machine, have pivotally connected thereto pawls 52 and 53, the same engaging ratchet gears 54 and 55 keyed upon the shafts 56 and 57 which extend transversely of the machine. The shaft 56 has keyed thereto and held in spaced relation-as indicated in Figure 2, a plurality of disks 59, the periphery of which is adapted to engage the folded sheets of paper and roll the same out from between .the lower ends of the paper holding arms 33, one of which terminates short of the curved end of the other, and upon an endless conveyer' 60which passes around a suitable drum 61 arranged upon the shaft 57. By this arrangement, it will be apparent that as the shafts 8 and 9 are oscillated the endless conveyer andv disks will be intermittently moved by the action of the pawls.

' From the foregoing,,it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will 'be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of'construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

- Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is w- 1. A folding machine comprising two pair of paper gripping jaws adapted to alternately receive therein paper webs and move outwardly upon the arc of a circle to fold the same, and spring controlled means connected to each jaw-adapted to close and open the same at certain periods within'the limits of their movements.

2. A folding machine comprising two pair of paper grippers adapted to alternately receive therein paper webs and move outwardly upon the arc of'a circle to fold the same, a sliding element carried by each gripper and having connections with the jaws of each gripper, and resilient means controlling the opening and closing action of each gripper at certain periods within the limits of its movement.

3. A folding machine comprising a pair of arms moving in fixed relation, shafts carried by the arms and moving outwardly in the arc of a circle, sets of gripping jaws carried by each shaft, means operated by the movement of one set of'jaws for tucking proximately a common point, and means for imparting an initial outward arcu'ate feed movement to each jaw set followed by a further outwardly offset movement to thereby cause the jaws to clear-the stac of sheets previously interfolded.

' 5. A folding machine comprising two sets of alternately actuated folding jaws adapted to grip sheets to be folded from approximately a common point, means associated with each set for gripping the sheet to be folded, and means associated with each set for causing the same to initially move outwardly in an arc of a circlejfollowed by a further movement tangentially to the arc whereby the sheet carried by said jaw is disposed upon the previously folded stack and released. v

6. A folding machinecomprising two sets of alternately actuated folding jawsadapted to grip sheets to be'folded from approximately a common point, means associated with each set for gripping the sheetIto be folded, means associated with each set for causing the same to initially move outwardly in an arc-of a circle followed by a further movement tangentially to the arc whereby th'esheet carried by said jaw is disposed upon the previously folded stack, and

' means for releasing said sheet at a determined point before same is'de-posited upon i the previously folded stack.

7. A folding machine comprising two sets of folding jaws adapted to move in fixed extended beyond its companion jaw of each 10.

one set of jaws for tucking paper into the pair, means controlled by the movement of other set, and means for releasing the paper therefrom during the interfolding movement of the jaws.

9. A folding machine comprising two sets of folding jaws adapted to move in fixed relation, an extended nose on the upper jaw of each set, means controlled by the movement of one set of jaws-for tucking paper into the other set, and means for opening,

and closing said jaws within the limits their interfolding movement.

10. A folding machine comprising two sets of folding jaws, an extended nose on the upper jaw of each set,said jaws adapted to oscillate in fixed relations, means'for tucking paper into each set of jaws at the start of its interfolding movement and resiliently controlled means connected to each set of jaws for opening and closing the same I successively within the limits of their interfolding movement.

11. A folding machine comprising two .sets of folding jaws adapted to move in fixed relations, an extended nose on the upper portion jaw of each set, means for tucking the paper between the jaws' of each set successively, and means for initially guiding said aws outwardly on the arc of a circle and then tangentially to the circle within the limits of the interfolding movement.

12. A folding machine comprising a pair of folding arms which oscillate in fixed relations, said arms carrying two sets of gripping jaws, the upper portion jaw of each. set having an extended nose, means controlled bythe movement of one jaw set for tucking paper into the other aw set, means for guiding each jaw set partway inits outward and downward movement on the arc of a circle and then tangentially to the circle to the the limit of the movement, and a resiliently controlled transverse sliding means connected to each jaw set for opening'said jaws at a certain period within the limit of its interfolding movement.

13. A folding machine comprising a pair of oscillating arms, moving in fixed relations,'shafts carried by said arms, a set of gripping jaws carried by each shaft, an extended nose on the upper jaw of each set, means operated by the movement of one set of jaws for tucking paper into the other'set, means for guiding said sets of jaws partway on the arc of a circle and then tangentially to the circle and resiliently controlled transverse sliding means for opening and closing gripping jaws at a certain period within the limit of its movement, and means for causing gripping jaws to turn from an oblique position to a horizontal position and vice versa, during its arculatory folding movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand at Green Bay, 

